St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25

der charge of Lieut.. ]. B. F. Rus
sell, who was then quartermaster in
the regular army. The falls were now
in the hands of a syndicate of rich men,
some Of whom had never seen the place.
1t was in 1S4S that they decided to
really improve the water power, and at
this time dam was constructed from
Hennepin island to the east bank of the
river. Before this, however, the saint
Anthony Water Power company" that
rich corporation which DOW claims such
unlimited rights in regard to using the
water in the river, took hold of its de-
velopment, from the center of the
channel on the west side of Hennepin
island TO the east shore. The Mime
apOlis Mill company took control of the
remainder; that is, from the center to
the west shore. Of course, the first
mills of any Importance that were
erected here were lumber mills, and to
them must be given the credit of max
ing Minneapolis what she is to-day in a
manufacturing way.
THE FALLS STORY.
In 1868 there came time that threat
ened to once for all destroy Minneapo-
lis as manufacturing center. During
the early part of that year, while work.
men were excavating big tunnel from
Hennepin island under the island and
beneath the river, to reach Nicollet
island, the roof of the tunnel caved in,
admitting vast quantities of water and
debris. The alarm at once went out:
"The falls are giving wayw Every
one Joined in the effort to overcome the
destructive forces. The fears of the cit
liens were well grounded, for the rock
bed of the river, extending only 1,2O0
feet above the falls, was already worn
through. The temporary eXpedients re-
sorted to were continued, renewed and
changed, until, by an appropriation
from the government, municipal and
private contributions, elaborate plans
were carried out for the presery-
walton of the falls. In 1869 Mai.
q. K. Warren made survey of
the falls, and called the attention
of the general government to the neces-
sity of the destruction that was pending.
James B. Francis, of Massachusetts,
was summoned to examine the falls and
to report as to the best means of avert
ing the castrophe. He recommended as
protection against further recession
of the crest, substantial apron of tim
Der, with heavy crib work at the bot
tom: for the dangerous tunnel that was
to be filled for 400 feet with
clay and gravel, and against the
third great danger, the action of
frost, that the limestone be kept flooded
by low dams. No time was lost in carry
ing out these energetic measures. A
board of construction, appointed by the
citizens, set about building the apron,
and private enterprise was united with
government aid in the work. The ma
tiOnal appropriation of $780, 900 was eX-
pended, beginning in 1870 and ending
in 1879. A concrete wall was laid in
the bed of sandstone beneath the lime
stone ledge, six feet in thickness at the
base. four feet at the top, and forty feet
in height the entire width of the river,
thus effectually preventing further
damage. The amount contributed fol
the work by citizens was $4,000. The
whole cost of an improvement buried
in the river was something over $1,000
600, but by it the 10000 horse power OF
the falls was preserved"
THE FIRST FACTORY.
There is considerable dispute among
historians as to who really manufact-
Hred the first goods, outside of lumber
md -four, here. The accounts differ
materially, but as near as can be learned
it was Louis Kampf, who came here in
1851, settled on section 10, on the river
road, and engaged in The manufacture
Of pottery, In log building about 16x20
feet. His business grew with the in.
creasing population, and in 1850 he
erected a tWo-Story stone building. 20xS0
feet. where he continued to grind out